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Astros trim roster, cutting Crowe, De Leon

Astros trim roster, cutting Crowe, De Leon

9/18/13: Jorge De Leon works a perfectly efficient 12th inning vs. the Reds, retiring Cincinnati in order on just three pitches

By Andrew Simon
/
MLB.com |

The Astros trimmed their 40-man roster to 36 on Thursday, outrighting outfielder Trevor Crowe and right-handed pitcher Jorge De Leon. Both players are eligible for free agency.

Crowe played 60 games across two stints with the Astros this season, starting 40 games between all three outfield positions. He posted a .218/.287/.291 batting line with one home run and 13 RBIs in 181 plate appearances. The 29-year-old Crowe, who signed with Houston as a Minor League free agent last November, also played 60 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City and hit .304/.364/.388.

De Leon also had two stints with the Astros in 2013, giving up six earned runs over 10 innings across 11 relief outings. It was the first big league action for the former Minor League infielder, who converted to the mound in '10. Signed by the Astros out of the Dominican Republic in '06, the 26-year-old posted a 3.46 ERA in 41 appearances between Oklahoma City and Double-A Corpus Christi this season.

Andrew Simon is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @HitTheCutoff. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.